i (heart) odd-toed ungulates

Maggie

Meet beautiful Maggie - doesn't get much more classic yellow Lab than this... *More of my animal portrait work can be viewed here.

Portrait of a Black Dog

I had a nice opportunity to work with a friend recently on an illustration for a product label. I will reveal the final design when that product is off to market, but for now, I think it's safe to share the artwork. The image is a portrait of a gone but not forgotten childhood best friend - a black lab named Damon.

Netta

*More of my animal portrait work can be viewed in the portrait gallery of my website.

Holmedown Arizona

Holmedown Arizona, aka "Rhea", is a Highland pony - hers being one of a handful of hardy breeds native to the British Isles (she happens to live in England). Highlands come in a variety of colors, including a broad range of shades comprising my favorite equine coat color affect - dun (Rhea is a beautiful example of a yellow dun). Since dun genes dilute solid colors, they can create all kinds of lovely, soft variation and gradients in the coat; dun is also considered a very primitive equine coat trait, as evidenced by the retention of "dun factors" like dorsal stripes, zebra striping/barring on the legs, shadowing on the neck and shoulders, and an unusual effect on the forehead known as cobwebbing (I'm a wicked sucker for stripes).

The Highland pony was  originally developed in the late 1800s as a compact, all purpose workhorse for the challenging landscape and somewhat severe environment of the Scottish Highlands. In addition to farm work, one of it's trusted tasks was also to serve the unique role of deer pony on red deer "stalks". Stalking deer over the rugged Scottish hillside was much more pleasant with a vehicle for traipsing the carcass out on, and the Highland, at roughly between 13 and 14.2 sure-footed, quiet, and steady hands high, made a perfect companion for a hunter - special saddles were even developed that could both comfortably seat a hunter on the trek out, but securely strap down and distribute the weight of a full grown Cervid elaphus (Red deer are one of the largest deer species) for the march home.

Red deer culls continue to this day, for the maintenance of herd populations on many Scottish estates, and the tradition of deer ponies is still strong; technology has improved firearms, technical gear and clothing, and navigation tools, but good old fashioned ponies are still more reliable, less obtrusive and destructive (delicate pony hooves vs. ATV tires), and actually better equipped for the terrain than motorized forms of transport - they also make much better trekking companions than anything with an engine. I love to see working domesticated animals doing what they were bred for (within the realm of humane purpose or duty), and while I'm not a hunter by any stretch, there's something wildly romantic in the image of a tweed-decked man leading a stout, wooly pony through the treeless hillsides with a single stag arched over the saddle... swoon...

Below: two photos of modern deer stalks, assisted by Highland ponies, from the website of accomplished hunter and pony fancier, Heather Mitchell, aka The Frilly Ghillie (more great images can be found on her blog); and a painting titled Return from the Hill, by Richard Ansdell, 1868.
 

Apollo

Apollo is a one woman dog. He's sociable and gentle with others, provided they're introduced properly (and not canine), but through and through he has eyes for but one person: his mum, Holly. And you can be sure the affection is mutual. Ridgebacks are intensely loyal to begin with, but a relationship that revolves in large part between just one dog and just one person is bound to produce an otherworldly expression of bonding and dedication (and copious inter-species conversation). I have a little experience with this, since Oscar and I have spent nearly every one of his days together; from a demanding little puppy under my desk in a former employer's office, to a mellow, 95lb confidant with his own pillow near the door of my current studio; my red wheaton shadow has followed me, and my heart is now hopelessly his.

And so as it was, spending an afternoon with Holly and Apollo was like looking into some magic mirror in which I'm a few inches shorter, and my dog is a few shades lighter. I don't actually know how often this sudden recognition of resemblance, in all seriousness, happens to other people, but it was both eerie and reassuring. From the familiarity of Apollo's classic RR mannerisms, to the bookshelf and kitchen cabinet dedicated to doggie well-being... right down to the change in Holly's tone of voice when Apollo was asked to lie down for a treat and (in his great, piggish eagerness for food) stopped short of his elbows touching the floor... it was Oscar and I, only different.

Merlin

Between the time I first learned to hold a pencil correctly and the day I left for college, horses were far and away my favorite subjects and I drew and painted them tirelessly. Art school encouraged/demanded me to branch out, and my professional life as an artist has since been filled with countless wonderful opportunities to turn my focus in all number of animal directions; though without question, there will always be a spacious sweet spot in my soul for equines and their reliable creative inspiration. The painting above is my first horse portrait in years, and it's been a pleasure, sweet Merlin... 

Merlin was a beloved member of the Dream Catchers therapeutic riding center in Williamsburg, Virginia. A stately Tennessee walking horse gelding - calm, willing, and ever patient - he offered special needs children the opportunity to improve their motor skills, self-esteem, and confidence, through the simple act of riding. Climbing aboard a horse is immediately empowering, and forging a working partnership with a 1,000+lb animal is a lesson in courage, subtlety, and unspoken communication. Each Dream Catchers student had a chance to literally leave their disability on the ground when they settled onto Merlin's back... a magical, awe-inspiring feat, indeed. Merlin leaves 16 gentle stablemates to carry on their proud task without him, but he will be dearly and forever missed. *More of my animal portrait work can be viewed here.

About Time

Oscar turned 5 this March, and sadly, I have actually never painted him before - sketched him, yes, but put the time into something more detailed than colored pencil, no... until this week. The big red dog has finally been immortalized in acrylic. I'd like to say I just felt like cranking this out, but I actually had an ulterior motive - for the second year in a row, Mutt Lynch Winery in Healdsburg, California is hosting an artist submitted dog art wine label contest. Mutt Lynch is themed after everything dog and each of their wines is graced with a uniquely eclectic canine art label, complete with a cheeky title ("Merlot Over and Play Dead", "Chateau d'Og", and "Fou Fou le Blanc Sauvignon Blanc"). My style might be a bit too serious for this crowd, but it sounded like fun anyway... 

This year's contest has 77 entries - public voting will be held through next Tuesday, the 25th, after which the top 10 finalists will go on to be judged by the owner of Mutt Lynch, Brenda Lynch, and Moira McLaughlin, of the contest hosting blog, Dog Art Today. If you feel like voting, here's a link (Oscar is entry #70, titled, "The Great Barrel-chested Red"). And if you don't feel like voting, maybe Oscar's rosy-red dreamscape has at least made you thirsty for a glass of Bordeaux...

Bobbin

 
Bobbin cohabitates with my brother, Karl (Best. Brother. Ever. In case you were wondering). Her particular tortie coloration* is a bit unnerving - something about splitting a face into distinct halves severely distracts the eye from it's familiar sense of the whole - and apparently she sat in a Brooklyn shelter a lot longer than the average homeless cat because of it... but she's got a swell home now. I don't think she's very fond of me because I compete for chair space at the breakfast table when I visit, but she's ever entertaining, and a whole lot different than living with a dog.

*Apparently, tortoiseshell coloration is nearly exclusive to female cats (this fact may very well be common knowledge to cat people, but I, being a dog person, was unaware). Here's how it works: The coat color gene in cats is located on the X chromosome, which female mammals, as we know from high school biology, have 2 of (XX) compared to males (XY). 2 co-dominant color alleles (orange and black) exist on this gene and during very early development, a phenomenon known as "X-inactivation" takes place in which one or the other X chromosome in each cell is randomly turned off - cells in which the chromosome carrying an orange allele is turned off will express the alternate - black, and vise versa. The result is a uniquely variegated coat pigmentation. Very rarely male tortoiseshells will be born, though since they are genetically abnormal (XXY), they are nearly always infertile. Animal coat color genetics are such a trip...

Boo Kitty

Gloria